Melting tank and apparatus for cooling seams thereof



Sept. 26, 1939. H. H. BLAU ET AL MEL-TING TANK AND APPARATUS FOR COOLINGSEAMS THEREOF Filed Oct. 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3.9 INVENTORSATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES WW Sept; 26, 1939. H. H. BLAU ET AL 2,174,458

MELTING TANK AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING SEAMS THEREOF 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed 001?. 15, 1937 FIG. 6.

INVENTORS mg! b a;

A/. M ww uw f ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES Sept. 26, 1939. H. H. BLAU ET A1. 5

I MELTING TANK AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING SEAMS THEREOF Filed Oct. 15,1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill/ill.

INVENTORS' Sept. 26,- 1939. H. H. BLAU ET AL 2,174,458

MELTING TANK AND APPARATUS FORCOOLING SEAMS THEREOF 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Oct. 15, 1957 T ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES /L4/l L Patented Sept. 26,1939

LIELTING TANK AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING SEAMS THEREOF Henry H. Blau andKenneth K. Knaell, Charleroi, Pa., asslgnors, by mesne assignments, toThe Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication October 15, 1937, Serial No. 169,108

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tanks or furnaces for melting material, suchas glass or the like, and more particularly is concerned with apparatusfor cooling the seams between blocks or bricks forming the meltingtanks.

It is the general object of our invention to provide improved meltingtanks and apparatus for effectively sealing the seams thereof whereininitial and maintenance costs are relatively low.

Another object of our invention is the provision of an improved glassmelting tank in which glass can be melted or refined without leakagethereof through the seams of the tank.

Another-object of our invention is to provide apparatus for cooling theseams of material melting tanks and for simultaneously heating thematerial through the blocks forming the tank.

Another object of our invention is to provide means for clamping therefractory blocks of a glass melting tank in position, which means alsofunction to seal between the individual blocks forming the tank.

Another object of our invention is the provision of an improved glassmelting tank formed of cast refractory blocks of high thermalconductivity wherein the seams or joints between the blocks are sealedto prevent the escape of the molten glass.

The foregoing and other objects of our invention are achieved by themethods and apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinFig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a melting tank, partlybroken away, constructed in accordance with the principles of ourinvention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but of a modified form ofour invention; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustratesanother form of the invention; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshows still another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a horizontalcross-sectional view through a portion of a glass tank illustratinganother embodiment of our invention; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1,but of another form of our invention; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5and illustrates another embodiment of our invention; Fig. 8is aperspective view of a refractory block or brick forming a part of ourinventive concept and particularly adapted for the construction of fluidtight material melting tanks; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a melting tankconstructed of the blocks shown in Fig. 8 with the greater portion ofthe tank being broken away; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but ofanother embodiment of .our invention; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional viewthrough a tank wall wherein the means for clamping the blocks inposition also function to cool the seam therebetween; Fig. 12 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 11 but of a modified form of clamp and cooling means;Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but of still another embodiment ofthe invention; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but' illustratesanother type of tank structure and seam cooling means; and Fig. 15 is anelevation of the tank wall illustrated in cross section in Fig. 14.

While it has. long been a problem to confine molten material in meltingtanks or furnaces due to seepage between the blocks forming the materialcontacting walls and bottom thereof, we have found that in the use ofcast refractory blocks for glass tanks the thermal conductivity of thecast refractory is so high that seepage of glass between the joints orseams of the blocks is a serious problem. Accordingly, the severalembodiments of our invention herein described and illustrated areconcerned, broadly, with sealing between the refractory blocks ofmaterial melting tanks, and, particularly, between cast refractoryblocks forming the walls and bottom of a glass melting tank.

Having particular reference to Fig. 1, the numeral l0 indicatesgenerally a glass melting tank formed of individual cast refractoryblocks 12 and carrying a batch of molten glass G1. The edges of theblocks 12 are beveled and receive pointed members l4 and 16 of very highheat conductivity as compared to the conductivity of the blocks l2. Themembers l4 and I6 serve to withdraw heat very rapidly from the seams orjoints between the blocks 12 when positioned as shown, so that moltenglass seeping into the seams is chilled by the members to seal the seamsand thereby prevent any further seepage of the molten glasstherethrough. 'The members may take a plurality of forms but preferablycomprise solid metal or silicon carbide bars, such as the member II, orhollow conduits such as the member 16 through which cooling fluid, suchas water, can be circulated. Themembers l4 and 16 preferably serve assupporting beams or vertical joists for the individual blocks comprisinga tank and may engage with a foundation or backing member l8. Angles I9secured to the members It and I6 preferably are provided to assist incarrying the load of the blocks. pleti ng the assembly are heatinsulating pads 20 of very low thermal conductivity w'hich surround thetank.

In the form of our invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the numeral 24indicates generally a glass Commelting tank formed of individual castrefractory blocks 26 and receiving molten glass G The individual blocks26 are formed with channels 28 at their ends so that when the blocks areassembled edge to edge a closed passageway is formed between thecontacting edges of the blocks. Cooling fluid, such air, .is circulatedthrough the passages from suitable header means 29 and under any desiredpressure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the numeral 32indicates generally a glass melting tank formed of individual castrefractory blocks 34 enclosing a molten body of glass G The blocks arein turn surrounded by heat insulating blocks 36. Each of the castrefractory blocks 34 is formed with a plurality of openings 38therethrough which, in the operation of the tank, are in opposedrelation adjacent the joints or seams between the individual blocks.Cooling fluid such as air is circulated through the passages 38 byconduits 39 extending thereto. so that any molten glass tending to seepthrough the joints or seams is frozen and the tank'remains fluid tightin use.

The numeral 42 indicates generally in Fig. 4 a glass melting tank formedof individual cast refractory blocks 44 and surrounded by heatinsulating pads 46. Molten glass G is illustrated in the tank. Theindividual refractory blocks 44 are provided with a plurality ofopenings 48 in the positions illustrated in Fig. 4 and these openingsare cooled, insulated or heated as by the passage of cooling or heatingfluid therethrough via conduits 49 and 50 and the use of an insulatingfiller, all in accordance with the showing in the drawings. Moreparticularly, the openings marked C are cooled, the openings marked Iare insulated, and those marked H are heated. It will be seen that theportions of the blocks 44 adjacent the joints or seams are cooled sothat molten glass tending to seep through the joints is frozen.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 5, the wall of amelting tank is indicated by the numeral 52 and comprises individualcast refractory blocks 54 formed with grooves 56 at their edges so thatwhen the edges of two blocks are placed together a passage 58 isprovided which is covered by a metal channel 60 secured to the blocks54, as for example, by heat insulating blocks 62'. Positioned in thepassage 58 is a conduit 64 which carries a cooling fluid which isdischarged through suitable openings in the conduit 64 to provide fluidsprays in the passage 58 so that any molten glass seeping through thejoint between the blocks 54 is frozen.

More particularly, in conjunction with this embodiment of our invention,we contemplate passing cooling fluid, such as air, throughthe passage 58from supply conduit 65 and then controlling the temperature of thecooling fluid by spraying the fluid with a liquid, such as water,carried in the conduit 64. By the combined use of air and water forcooling in this manner a very complete control of the seam cooling isprovided which is more satisfactory than either air or water alone.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated still another embodiment of our inventionwherein the numeral I indicates generally a portion of a glass meltingtank including individual cast refractory blocks I2 each formed at theirends with channels I4 so as to provide passages 16 between adjacent andcontacting block portions. The passages I6 receive conduits 18 which areformed with openings so that water or other liquid cooling fluid carriedby the conduits can be sprayed onto the surface of the blocks and sothat air or other gaseous cooling fluid carried in the passages 16 andsupplied thereto by conduits I9 can be cooled or humidified as desired.Molten glass is indicated G A wall 82 of a material melting tank isindicated in .Fig. 7 wherein refractory blocks 84 are illustrated asabutting at their edges to form a joint or seam with the abuttingfaces'of the blocks being provided with grooves 86 of semicircular shapereceiving a pipe 88. The pipe 88 functions not only to support theblocks forming the wall but likewise, by passing cooling fluid throughthe pipe, the escape of molten material through the joint between theindividual blocks is prevented. Instead of being round as shown the pipe88 and the grooves 86 may be made of any polygonic cross section as willbe understood, I I

Fig. 8 illustrates a refractory block 90 for use in the construction ofmaterial-melting tanks. The block is provided with grooves 92 on onepair of opposite edges or seam-forming faces and grooves 94 on its otheredges or seam-forming faces. The grooves 92 are opposite each other andthe grooves 94 are opposite each other but the grooves 92 and 94 areofiset.

Fig. 9 illustrates the manner of assembling the blocks 90 together toform a wall of a material melting tank. In Fig. 9 the blocks are laidside by side so that the grooves 92 of adjacent blocks are in opposedrelation and receive conduits 98 which, as above described inconjunction with Fig. 7, serve to both hold the blocks in position andcool any molten material attempting to escape through the joints betweenthe blocks. Received in the grooves 94 of adjacent blocks are pipes I00which likewise function to hold the blocks in position and prevent theescape of molten material between the block joints. The pipes 98 areconnected to a header I02 whereby cooling fluid under pressure can besupplied to the individual pipes. In a like manner, the pipes I00 areconnected to a header I04 to achieve the same end.

In the walls I06 and I08 of the tank the blocks 9|) are similarlymounted and their joints cooled.

' Specifically, conduits IIO extend vertically of the blocks andconduits IIZ extend horizontally, each being connected to suitableheaders, as will be understood. In the wall I08 pipes II2 extendvertically and pipes II4 horizontally. Suitable headers are provided forthese pipes as well and the conduits can be bent and the blocksappropriately recessed so as to facilitate the mounting of the wallsupon the bottom of the tank.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Fig. the numeral I20indicates generally a glass melting tank formed. of cast refractoryblocks I22 and supporting molten glass G The individual blocks I22 areformed with passages I24 which are cooled or heated by suitable fluidvia conduits I23, as indicated respectively by the letters 0 and H. Thisembodiment of our invention differs from that illustrated in Fig. 4, andheretofore described, in that the individual passages I24 are formedwith heat insulating means I26 between adjacent passages carryingheating and cooling fluid. In this manner the fluid used to cool thepassages marked C is directed toward the cooling of the seams or jointsof the tank and the heating fluid passed through the passages marked His insulated away from the cooled portions of the blocks. By aconstruction of this kind we are able to simultaneously cool the seamsbetween the blocks and heat the molten glass in the tank through thewalls 0 the blocks in contact therewith.

An important part of our inventive concept is the provision of means forclamping the blocks forming a wall of the melting tank in position withthe means functioning also to carry a cooling fluid adjacent the seamsor joints between the blocks. Thus in Fig. 11. we have illustrated atank wall I30 formed of individual cast refractory blocks I32 eachprovided with an undercut I34 at its edge. Associated with the undercutsI34 of adjacent seam edges is a combined clamp and conduit, indicated asa whole by the numeral I36. This clamp and conduit comprises plate-likehalves I31 and I38 hinged together as at I39. The opposed plate-likeportions engage under the overhangs I34 at the ends of the blocks andthe portions of the plates on the other side of the hinge are connectedtogether by a plurality of bolts I40. Thus when the blocks are clampedtogether as shown, by inserting the ends of the plates I31 and I38 underthe overhangs and then drawing down the bolts I40, a conduit or passageI42 is provided in the region of the joint between the blocks. Fluid,such as air, can be passed through the passage I42, via conduits I43, tocool the seam and the blocks are held in proper position by the clampingconduit I 36.

In Fig. 12 the numeral I46 indicates generally awall of a materialmelting tank formed of individual cast refractory blocks I48 eachprovided with a rib I50 at its edges. The ribs I50 are gripped by aclamping conduit I52 comprising flange portions I54 .engaging behind theribs and locked in position by a plurality of bolts I56 which areadjustable in slots. Thus the clamping conduit I52, when in the positionillustrated, functions to simultaneously clamp the blocks together andto provide a passageway I58 for the reception of cooling fluid, such asair, which can be passed therethrough, by way of conduits I59, tocoolthe joint or seam between the refractory blocks I48.

The form of our invention illustrated in Fig. 13 is quite similar tothat shown in Fig. 7. Particularly, the numeral I60 indicates generallya tank wall formed of cast refractory blocks I62 which are provided withgrooved edges 54' adapted to receive a pipe or other conduit I66. Theconduit I66 is mounted by suitable means such as bolts I68 upon achannel or other loadcarrying or positioning member I10. In the 1operation of this embodiment of our invention fluid under pressure iscirculated through the conduit I66 and we have found that moltenmaterial, such as glass marked .G", which seeps through the jointsbetween the blocks, collects around the conduit I66 as shown to providea tight seal between the seam of the blocks and likewise to function toanchor and hold the blocks I62 in fixed relation to the channel I10.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 thenumeral I14 indicates generally a wall of a glass melting tank formed ofindividual cast refractory blocks I16. Each of the blocks I16 isprovided with a raised rib I18 adjacent its edges which ribs terminateshort of the opposite edges of the blocks. Thus conduits I can bepositioned over joints or seams I82 extending in one direction relativeto the blocks with the conduits being substantially of the same heightas the'ribs, as shown in the drawings. Conduits I84 extending in theother direction relative to the blocks I 16 cover the joints or seamsI86 between the blocks at right angles to the seams I82- Air or otherfluid is circulated through the conduits I80 and I84 and the conduitsfunction to cool the seams and if desired may be made ofsufilcientstrength to support the individual refractory blocks.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the objects of ourinvention have been achieved by the provision of improved methods andapparatus for cooling the seams of material me1ting tanks, such as glasstanks, and particularly where these tanks are made of cast refractoryhaving a high thermal conductivity. The means for cooling the seamsbetweenthe blocks may serve also to lock or support the blocks in thedesired position and further by the principles herein disclosed andclaimed we are able to cool the seams and joints between blocks of glassmelting tanks while simultaneously heating the glass at other portionsof the tank remote from the seams by passage of heat through therefractory blocks themselves.

In the actual use of our improved tank structures, walls and methods andapparatus for preventing the escape of molten material from refractorytanks, it should be appreciated that the refractory blocks or tanksherein disclosed and illustrated can be made of any desired size orshape without departing from our inventive concept. Particularly, theblocks may be made of suflicient height or length, as for example toextend the full height or width of a side or bottom wall, so that onlythe fewest possible number of joints between the blocks will berequired, because thereby difliculties of cooling connections arelargely eliminated.

Although the invention has been particularly described in conjunctionwith cast refractory blocks having relatively high thermal conductivitybecause of the special problems attending their use, it will beappreciated that many of the principles of our invention are applicablealso to use .with ordinary bonded refractory blocks. Further, certain ofthe embodiments of the invention illustrated have insulating meanssurrounding the tanks or walls thereof. We contemplate the use ofsuch'means particularly with cast refractory blocks and. generally wheredesirable.

While in accordance with the patent statutes several embodiments of ourinvention have been illustrated and described in detail, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but isdefined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a material melting tank, a plurality of cast refractory blocksforming a wall and having seams between the blocks extending away fromthe material contacting surfaces of the blocks, the faces of the blocksat the seams being formed with complemental grooves, said grooves on,

opposed faces of each block being opposed but with the grooves onadjacent faces of the blocks being offset from each other, conduitspositioned in the complementary grooves, and header pipes connected tothe ends of the conduits and adapted to pass cooling fluid through theconduits, said conduits serving to hold the blocks in position and tocool the seam around each block whereby molten material attemptingtoescape through the seam is solidified.

2. In a material'melting tank, a plurality of refractory blocks forminga wall and having seams between the blocks extending away from thematerial contacting surfaces of the blocks, the faces of the blocks atthe seams being formed with complemental. grooves, said grooves onopposed faces of each block being opposed, conduits positioned in thecomplementary grooves, and header pipes connected to the ends of theconduits and adapted to pass cooling fluid through the conduits, saidconduits serving to cool the seam around each block whereby moltenmaterial attempting to escape through the seam is solidified.

3. A refractory block for use in building glass meltin tanks or thelike, comprising a six-sided body having opposed faces substantiallyparallel to each other and adjacent faces substantially duits coveringthe seams of the blocks opposite the surfaces in engagement with thematerial. the conduits extending in one direction being in the sameplane, and the conduits extending in another direction being in a planeparallel to but spaced from the first-named plane.

HENRY H. BLAU. KENNETH K. KNAELL.

